HEAVY rainfall in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu disrupted life while throwing train services in the State haywire. Southern Railways in a press release stated that it was taking concerted efforts towards the restoration of traffic and evacuation of stranded passengers at the Srivakuntam Railway Station. “Unprecedented rainfall had occurred in the districts of Tirunelveli and Tuticorin during the 24 hours from 8:30 hours of December 17, 2023, to 8:30 hours of December 18, 2023, measuring in the range of 670 mm to 932 mm. This has impacted the train operation as track parametres have been breached on certain sections falling in these two districts and as a result, traffic has to be suspended,” Southern Railways said in a press release on Monday, December 18. It further stated that in the section between Talalyuthu and Gangaikondan (7.71 kms), an Earth slip had occurred on the approach bank of a bridge in that section and ballast had also got washed away. “Tirunelveli Station yard has got flooded due to the overflowing of Nainarkulam tank.

 

In Tuticorin station yard, water has risen one metre above the rail level due to abnormal rainfall. In the section between Tattapparai and Milavittan (7.47 kms), the water has gone above danger level across nine bridges. In thesection between Srivaikuntam and Seydunganallur (12.16 kms) the ballast has got washed away,” it said. More funds needed to cope with cyclone devastation, says CM stalin: THE southern districts of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi were among the severely affected by unprecedented rains as they received their annual rainfall on a single day leading to massive inundation, Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin said. As the State was coping with the relief and rehabilitation of the four districts including Chennai where Cyclone Michaung wreaked havoc on December 4, heavy rains battered the southern districts of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi and Kanyakumari, on December 17 and 18, he said. Relief and rehabilitation in these districts would be taken up in the same vigour in which the State Government had launched the activities in Chennai and suburbs, Stalin said and added that he would personally visit Thoothukudi on Wednesday to oversee the relief and rehabilitation activities.

 

Meanwhile, defence, national and State disaster response force teams have joined hands in relief and rescue initiatives while food packets are being delivered to people using helicopters in marooned regions in southern Tamil Nadu, a top Government official said on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters here, Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena said so far, 10,082 people have been rescued and housed in over 100 relief camps, which includes schools and public halls. Food, milk, drinking water and basic amenities have been ensured.